Flagstaff.



B. L. MINK.

FLAGSTAFF.

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1917.

Patented J an, 22,1918.

uan/4M.

BENJAMIN L. MINK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLAGSTAFF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

Application filed June 25, 1917. Serial No. 176,802.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, BENJAMIN L. lVIINK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in F lagstaffs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved staff or holder for a flag, being of a form and construction especially adapted for use in connection with small flags intended to be carried in the hand.

It consists of a staff made in two or more parts, adapted to be securely united, end to end, to one of which is secured the flag, and when united serving as a staff for supporting the flag horizontally, the lower or hand section being adapted when separated from the other section to serve as a pole or support for the flag when suspended vertically and used as a banner.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view of a flag provided with a staff formed of two sections made according to my invention, the sections being united, the flag flying horizontally.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the parts of the staff separated and used to support the flag vertically as a banner.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detail sectional view through the joint of the two parts of the staff.

In the accompanying drawings 0 indicates a flag. It is secured to a staff section 2, preferably of a length a little greater than the width of the flag. At the ends of this staff section are enlargements 3 preferably spheroidal in shape. One of these, that at the lower end of the staff section 2, is provided with a socket 4 in line with the axis of the staff :2 and of a size to receive the end of a second staff section 5, in which end is formed a slot or kerf 6. The size of the upper slotted end ofthe staff 5, as compared with the socket into which it enters, is such that when inserted in place the two parts of the staff end separated by the kerf 6 are forced together and hence by their resiliency tend to firmly seat themselves in the socket and hold the staff sections securely in line with each other.

8 indicates a slack cord secured to the staff section 2 near its ends, and adapted to serve as the suspending means for the flag when hung vertically-as a banner, as represented in Fig. When thus used the hand section 5 of the staff removed from its socket and the cord 8 is inserted into the slot or kerf (5 in the end of the staff, which then serves as the handle by which the flag may be carried as a banner.

I preferably provide two enlargements 3, 3 at the ends of the staff section 2; but the one at the upper end is used merely for appearance sake to give the staff section 2 a balanced and completed effect when serving as the cross supporting bar for the flag when hanging vertically.

The ends of the cord 8 may be provided with tassels 7 if desired.

A flag provided with a staff such as described is particularly adapted for use in parades, spectacular drills, and political and other conventions. The staff, when the two parts are united, as represented in Fig. 1, is of a length to properly support the flag when carried in the hand and supported horizontally. But when it is desired to carry or support the flag as a banner, then the parts of the staff are separated, and used as indicated in Fig. 2. When the flag is not in use the sections of the staff may be separated and laid parallel, side by side, and the flag wrapped about them, thus making a small bundle, easily carried or stored.

The slitting of one end of the lower section 5 of the staff serves a double purpose. It makes such end resilient, thus insuring a secure union of the staff sections when inserted into the socket 4, and also provides a seat for the cord 8 when the flag is supported so as to hang vertically.

I am aware that flag staffs made of two or more separable sections are old, and do not claim such a staff broadly. fVhile as described my invention is particularly applicable to small hand flags, it is to be understood that it may be used equally well with large flags.

What I claim is:

1. A flag staff comprising a pair of separable sections, the section to which the flag is secured having a socket, and the lower section having a split end that enters the said socket, and a slack cord attached to the flag-carrying section of the staff, the lower section of the staff being adapted to engage with the slack cord by its split end.

2. A separable flag staff of two parts, to one of which is secured the flag, and the other being adapted to be carried in the hand, the flag-carrying section being provided at its ends with enlargements, in the lower of which is a socket,and the upper end of the hand portion of the staff being split and of a size to closely fit the socket, and when inserted therein to have its ends forced toward each other, and a slack cord secured to the flag-carrying section of the stat? and adapted to be made to enter the slit in the end of the handle part of the staff, when the staff parts are separated and it is desired to have the Hag hang vertically as a banner.

2-3. A flag staff comprising a pair of: sepnrable sections, to one of which is secured a flag and at the lower end of which section is a socket, the other section having a split end that is adapted to enter the socket, and means attached to the flag-carrying section of the staff and adapted to be engaged h the split end of the lower section of the shift to support the flag vertically as a banner.

BENJAMIN L. MINK.

.Cnpies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing; the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. C. 

